Flags to fly at half-mast in HK to mourn victims of ferry crash

HONG KONG - National and regional flags at all government buildings in Hong Kong will be flown at half-mast for three days starting on Thursday to pay last respects to the victims of a fatal ferry crash, the city government said in a statement Wednesday.

At midday on Thursday, a ceremony led by Hong Kong Chief Executive CY Leung and other principal officials will be held in front of the city government's headquarters to observe three minutes of silence in mourning.

Except for emergency and immigration services, other government services will be suspended during the period. All staff on duty will observe the three-minute silence at their work places.

Employees of Hong Kong Electric pay tribute to those died on their company boat during a ferry collision on Monday, in Hong Kong, Oct 3, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]

Thirty-eight people including at least five children were killed after two ferries collided on Monday evening off Hong Kong's Lamma Island. As at 4:00 pm local time on Wednesday, 22 injured people remained in hospital, two of them were in critical or serious conditions.

Six crew detained after HK ship collision

Six crew from two vessels have been arrested on Tuesday after thirty-eight people including at least five children were killed after two vessels collided on Monday evening off the Southwest of the Hong Kong Island. [Full story]

Oct 4 declared as a mourning day

Hong Kong's Chief Executive CY Leung declared Oct 4 as a day of condolence. He and other principal officials will observe three minutes of silence in mourning outside the Central Government Offices at noon that day. [Full story]

Leaders express condolence over HK ship collision

President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao and Vice-President Xi Jinping on Tuesday expressed condolence over Monday's deadly ship collision in Hong Kong and urged the HK government to spare no efforts to rescue the missing people and comfort the victims' families. Hu, Wen and Xi had all made calls to learn about the relief work. [Full story]

The ferry collision on Monday night is the worst accident since 1997. [Photo by Edmond Tang / China Daily]

38 killed in HK ferry

Thirty-eight people including at least five children were killed after two vessels collided on Monday evening off the Lamma Island on the Southwest of the Hong Kong Island. [Full story]